development | ALXnow

Officials: ‘Snob Factor’ in City Zoning Makes Creating Affordable Housing in Eisenhower Harder

Published December 5, 2019 at 11:45AM

The city is hoping to bring new affordable housing to the Eisenhower Valley, but some on the Planning Commission said the city is shooting itself in the foot with snobby development guidelines.

The plans to reshape Eisenhower — a topic that came up several times this week — went to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Dec. 3. While the commission mostly praised the vision presented in the plans, Commissioner Mindy Lyle pointed out that efforts to create more affordable housing in the area are inadvertently hamstrung by the city’s own zoning and design practices.

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 4, 2019 at 8:15AM

Redevelopment Plan in North Old Town — “As the American Physical Therapy Association prepares for a move to Potomac Yard, its current headquarters in North Old Town Alexandria is now slated for a major mixed-use redevelopment.” [Washington Business Journal]

ACPS Teacher’s Harrowing Journey — “When Onelio Mencho-Aguilar was 13-years-old, he left his mother and siblings to embark on a treacherous journey through rural Guatemala to the U.S. alone… against the odds, he found a home here in Alexandria and with the support he found, he thrived. First as a student at T.C. Williams High School and now as a teacher at the International Academy where new arrivals to the U.S. are educated and supported.” [Alexandria City Public Schools]

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What’s Ahead for the Eisenhower Valley?

By Vernon Miles

Published December 3, 2019 at 9:35AM

2010 Eisenhower Avenue (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

There are big things in store for Eisenhower Valley, and local leadership says the southwest Alexandria neighborhood is ready for its moment in the spotlight.

The city is in the middle of developing an update to its master plan for the Eisenhower Valley. Leadership from the Eisenhower Partnership — an organization that recently celebrated its 25th anniversary — spoke with ALXnow about how they see that plan taking shape.

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Mai Thai in Old Town on the Chopping Block as City Mulls Future of Waterfront Property

By Vernon Miles

Published November 19, 2019 at 11:30AM

Mai Thai (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The city-owned small parcel at 2 King Street — currently home to eight leased parking spaces — could have a big impact on the block at the end of King Street if the city approves a sale.

At the Waterfront Commission meeting this morning (Tuesday), staff said the city received an unsolicited offer for the lot in June from the current owners of the adjacent Fitzgerald Warehouse building. The City Council subsequently authorized staff to consider the sale and look into alternatives for the property.

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Planning Commission Approves New Gothic Presbyterian Church in Rosemont

By Vernon Miles

Published November 8, 2019 at 10:35AM | Updated November 8, 2019 at 11:11AM

Proposed Alexandria Presbyterian Church (photo via City of Alexandria)

Despite some concerns from neighbors, the Planning Commission unanimously gave the thumbs up a new 22,794 square-foot, gothic-style Presbyterian church, a couple of blocks north of T.C. Williams High School.

The new building will replace the existing 3,400 square foot Alexandria Presbyterian Church at 1300 W. Braddock Road, as well as a parking lot and an adjacent residence, but the congregation is larger than the church can contain. The congregation also has held worship services at Del Ray Baptist Church since 1999, but the new church will bring all of the members together under one roof.

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Eight Million Square Feet of New Development In the Works for Potomac Yard

By Vernon Miles

Published November 7, 2019 at 11:30AM

Just a few days after submitting plans for the Virginia Tech site near the North Potomac Yard Metro station, JBG Smith has submitted early concept designs for the development that will replace Target and the other Potomac Yard stores.

While the area is known today as a big-box shopping center and surface parking lot, the majority of the new development will be office and residential spaces in a large grid, the Washington Business Journal first reported. Ten of the buildings will be required to have retail, with optional retail at the southern end of the site.

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New Art Deco Influenced Townhouses Planned for Braddock Neighborhood

By Vernon Miles

Published November 6, 2019 at 2:00PM

New townhouses proposed at 601 North Alfred Street (image via City of Alexandria)

A brick home built around 1940 in the Braddock neighborhood could be torn down and replaced with a pair of new townhouses.

The pair of townhouses at 603 N. Alfred Street are scheduled for review at the Board of Architectural (BAR) tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m.

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Virginia Tech Unveils First Concept Plan for North Potomac Yard

By Vernon Miles

Published November 4, 2019 at 10:30AM | Updated November 4, 2019 at 10:50AM

(Updated at 10:50 a.m.) Plans are starting to take shape for North Potomac Yard.

Virginia Tech has submitted its first concept plan, showing what its Innovation Campus will look like just as the design of the Potomac Yard Metro station nears its final design phase.

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ADA-Accessible Upgrades Coming to Old Town VRE Station

By Vernon Miles

Published October 31, 2019 at 10:30AM | Updated October 31, 2019 at 11:48AM

The Amtrak and VRE station (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 11:45 a.m.) Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is moving forward with plans to upgrade Alexandria Union Station — not to be confused with D.C.’s Union Station.

On Oct. 24, the VRE submitted concepts for a requested development site plan to improve accessibility to the train station at 110 Callahan Drive, which also serves Amtrak.

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New Carlyle Apartment Complex to Open in February

By Vernon Miles

Published October 28, 2019 at 3:15PM

Concept rendering for The Foundry (image via The Foundry)

The Foundry, a new apartment complex under construction in Hoffman Town Center, is scheduled to open early next year.

“The Foundry is set to open by the end of February 2020,” a spokesperson for the project told ALXnow in an email.

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Construction Continues on Wegmans and Carlyle Crossing Development

By Airey

Published October 25, 2019 at 11:30AM | Updated October 25, 2019 at 2:30PM

(Updated 2:30 p.m.) Work on the new Wegmans in Alexandria is progressing as construction crews dig downwards.

Cranes and workers could be seen on the site near the Eisenhower Metro today (Thursday) that now resembles a five-acre dug-out after construction on the future $400 million mixed-use development kicked off in August, as reported by Alexandria Living Magazine.